Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-08
CITY AND DISTRICT.
REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
Progress Of tlse Work on the Massachu.
sctfs Avenue Extension.

REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
Progress Of the Work on the Nassachu.
sctfs Avenue Extension.
The RENT QUESTION IN THIS crTY-yIEws OF TEN
ANTS AND LaNDLoRDs-THs PRICE CITY LOTS
FORTY YEARS sGo-NAKfyG THIS CITY THE EAD-
QrARTERs OF the SOUTHERN TRUNK LINE-A FINE
RESIDESCE On CAPITOL HILL, ETC.
Gradually the heights overlooking portion OF
Rock Creek. along Massachusetts avenue extend
Cd are being leveled and the earth used In filling
up the ravines and hollows along the borders OF
that picturesque stream II may be said, almost
literally, that mountains have been moved for
the grading in this portion of the new subdivision
known as Belair Heights has been very heavy,
and there is MI that must be at least 40 feet
deep. A walk out Massachusetts avenue extended
would show great many changes wrought in the
face of the country since last spring AS Is known,
the avenue itself from Boundary was opened up
through Ralorama and part of BelaiI Heights by
the District government, but the funds giving
out the work OF extending the avenue all the way
to Rock Creek was abandoned before 1t had quite
reached that point. The kalorana property,
which Is low owned by Philadelphia syndicate
has not been subdivided because the question gifts
partition between the present owners and some Of
the heirs Is pending before the courts The land
necessary for the extension OF Massachusetts, ave
nue. was nowever given 10 ee eo Di h ana I1e
completed Beyond this property is Beiar Heights
and here the men and horses and carts have
worked busily, and in consequence they have sue
ceeded in cutting down a hill on one side and In
throwing IL into the ravine on the other side
Through the center runs the broad avenue and it
extends out 10 the rav1ne through which Rock
Creek finds its winding way. 1t Is the intention
o. those interetea IN prope.Ly 10 this Vicinity as
1eytown road, TO ask Congress TO appropriate
money for the erection OF bridge across Rock
~ ton h.. ain. hall
sent 10 the district Commissioners asking their
good offices in this matter. Where the line OF
Massachusetts, avenue extended crosses the en-
leytown road beginning was made some NOR Tbs
ago OF opening up the avenue. but the work was
bank. Bsyond lies the Wooded slopes anu then the
city. The owners of the property promise That II
the bridge is built over Rock Creek that. the
abrupty-suspended avenue Will be continued IN
I'll it reaches the bridge.
CITY LOTS FORTY YEARS AGO.
In glanctng over Old report made 70 Congress
OF the sales OF public lots In the city OF Washing
ton for two three years prior to 1S4O the prices
given contrast very forcibly With those asked at
the present time for the same property. For in
stance, the Baltimore and OHIO Railroad Company
paid 81, 6,6.35 for the square on which the depot
and shops are now located, and half OF square 514.
west. Rnoda ONeill became the owner OF the
triangular piece OF ground fronting on Dupont
and 10th street. The price paid for the entire
square was S54O7, or a cent foot. The same
purchaser
the other side OF 18th street, fronting on Dupont
Circle, with one side bounded by New Hampshire
avenue and another by Q street. There were
359lS square feet In this square, and at the price
of y cent q FOOT $l7a.o9 was paid Tor the entire
square. For square 134, between 18th, 18th, Q,
s4aaaa. Mr.. Joshua Pierce purchased some twelve
lots on 18th street, between and streets,
yn M his I Mi o an ,n ms ts R and ne
Hospital has recently been erected there. AT the
time Of his death the lots, however, had increased
rfry,O. int <fpf4 fhaN
Thos. Corcoran, the father OF Mr.. W. W. Corcoran,
purchased all Of square 81, which lies between
10Th, 21St and q streets and Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. lie paid half cent a loot or 1898 u for the
entire square. There were two lots purchased in
the square az the foot of capitol Ill., bounded by
LIST, 3D. and streets and Maryland avenue, for
which cents foot was paid. Geo. Bomford paid
$7t4.6o for the whole OF square 800, which is
bounded by y, o. sth. and 9th streets The record
shows that as much as $500 was paid for single
LOT In the section south OF the avenue and west OF
the State Department.
THE QUESTION OF HIGH AND Low RENTS.
The figures given by the building Inspector show
ing that 2, As new buildings were erected during
the year ended June 30, 1887, an excess OF co.
buildings over that OF the previous year, was, no
dDuot a surprise even to a large number Of build
els fhe increase in the value OF the buildings
erected will not equal surprise reason
that an unusually large number OF expensive
houses have been built this year which has helped
materially IN swelling the aggregate. While the
increase In the number OF costly houses is un-
doubleday the feature OF the past year, yet the
that the list Of smaller houses has received
liberal addition. The activity in building for sew
sas In s
1unbsr De% houses great al
Sents DO INC not come down. This is what ia a
srAR reporter hears frequently nom those
are on higher scale in this city than the situa-
tton OF Affairs warrants, and that there has been
no change from the time when the growth OF the
tons Houses are now more plentiful, IL Is claimed,
but the Old rates are maintained and owners
those who take this view OF the matter are OF the
opinion that people expect a Larger return upon
they can Get elsewhere and that the present scale
of rents are due TO an unwiingness on the part OF
property owners TO recognize the new conditions.
point 70 the large number OF vacant houses all
through the city.
On the other hand the owners OF property and
the agents With whom STAR reporter has talked
say that rents are not too hiyh that land has ad-
vaneed In value and that the cost OF building has
Increased They claim that the present scale OF
rents instead OF paying a large return seldom
pays more than per cent let, and frequently
8 per cent gross upon the money invested the
property-owner Is satisfied Deduct1Dg from this
the per cent for taxas, insurance and current
repairs. there remains but d per cent net profit
upon the Investment In the case OF houses that
have been Quilt for some years and are now In a
desirable locality the return Is much greater than
per cent. the agents also say that II there Is
q large number Of vacant houses in the city they
have no Information OF IL. They have houses for
rent but no more than they usually have at
this time OF the year, and by the time the season
has fairly begun they do not expect 10 have any
houses undispo5ed OF, except the few houses
that for one reason anu another are always on the
market
RAILROAD HEADQUARTERS IN THIS CITY.
Gen Payne, the counsel Tor the Richmond and
Danyile Railroad Co., has recently purchased all
OF square 800 and portion OF square 299. which
lies between 18th and 18th streets, Maryland
avenue and Water streets southwest. II Is stated
that the purchase was made for the company, and
That Is the intention TO make this city north
ern freight terminus OF the Piedmont Air Line, as
the road with lis branches Is known. The main
ofices OF the company have recently been
established here, and the purchase OF this property
Il believed 10 be another more in the direction OF
making this city the headquarters Of the road.
Mr. CavAHAUGHs RESIDENCE.
handsome residence FOR L. Cayanaugh is just
being nnsshed on East Capitol street, between 9Th
and 7th Streets from designs by Appleton p. Clark
IT., architect The house is three stories and base
menI high, and the 'front.' which Is or press brick.
has bay window extending 10 the roof, and Is
profuSely Ornamented with nodded brick The
dining room and Kitchen are IN the basement and
have ample pantres The inst 1oOr has large
double parors, 80 feet long, aud a smoking room q
feet By 10 feet. The bedroom floors are convent
entity arranged and contain six bedrooms, closets
and trunk-room- The rirst floor Is finished In
cypress the staircase IN ash and cherry and the
remainder OF house in poplar